CSI captures CUNY regular-season tennis title

Despite a loss by Robert Hargraves, the Dolphins bounced back to win the CUNY regular-season championship. (Photo courtesy of CSI athletics)

The College of Staten Island tennis team captured its first regular-season CUNY title since 1999 after edging visiting Hunter College 5-4 Saturday in Willowbrook.

The match, a pickup from one previously rained-shortened, featured only three singles matches, which began with the score tied, 3-3.

With the CSI win, both schools finished tied atop the CUNYAC standings with identical 7-1 records, but the Dolphins earn the championship via the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Hunter's No. 6 singles player Ian Katz scored a decisive win over CSI's Robert Hargraves, 6-2, 6-2, to open the showdown.

At No. 4, CSI's Joe Taranto came back from a 3-0 deficit to win in a first-set tiebreaker and eventually a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 triumph over Noel Marrero.

The CUNY championship would be decided at No. 5 singles where CSI's Giorgio Dano and Hunter's Andres Gonzalez did battle.

After losing a first-set tiebreaker, Dano rallied to win the next two sets (6-4, 6-3) for coach Paul Ricciardi's initial CUNY title.

"I can't say enough about our team's mental presence today," said Ricciardi. "We were able to block out the pressure and really respond to play good tennis."

The team championship means CSI is set up as the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming CUNYAC Tournament, which kicks off Tuesday. The Dolphins will host the winner of a regular season contest between York College and New York City College of Technology.

"It feels great to accomplish one of the two goals we had coming into the season," added Ricciardi. "Now we're ready to dedicate ourselves to the second season. We know it will be hard work, but we're looking forward to the challenge."